CVE-2014-8917 in Social Media Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in (1) dojox/form/resources/uploader.swf (aka upload.swf), (2) dojox/form/resources/fileuploader.swf (aka fileupload.swf), (3) dojox/av/resources/audio.swf, and (4) dojox/av/resources/video.swf in the IBM Dojo Toolkit, as used in IBM Social Media Analytics 1.3 before IF11 and other products, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2017
The vulnerability CVE-2014-8917 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple flash-based components within the IBM Dojo Toolkit. These vulnerable files include dojox/form/resources/uploader.swf, dojox/form/resources/fileuploader.swf, dojox/av/resources/audio.swf, and dojox/av/resources/video.swf which are integral parts of IBM Social Media Analytics 1.3 before IF11 and other affected products. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within these flash applications, creating opportunities for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the target system. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could occur through various entry points including user-supplied data in file upload operations or media handling functionalities.
The technical implementation of these XSS vulnerabilities occurs at the flash application level where user input is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered within the web page context. When these flash components process user-supplied data, they fail to sanitize the input, allowing attackers to embed malicious payloads that execute in the context of the victim's browser. This creates a persistent threat where any user interacting with the vulnerable components could be exposed to malicious code execution, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the victim's browser. The vulnerability affects the broader IBM Dojo Toolkit ecosystem, making it particularly concerning as it impacts multiple flash-based components that handle file uploads and media processing functionalities.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8917 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform sophisticated social engineering attacks and maintain persistent access to affected systems. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to steal user credentials, manipulate application behavior, or redirect users to malicious websites. The flash-based nature of these components means that the attack surface includes not just the direct web application but also the underlying flash runtime environment, which can be exploited to bypass certain security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using IBM Social Media Analytics and other products that integrate the Dojo Toolkit, potentially compromising sensitive social media data and user information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or removing the vulnerable flash components from their applications, implementing strict content security policies, and applying available vendor patches. The recommended approach involves thorough input validation at multiple levels including client-side and server-side processing, along with comprehensive output encoding to prevent script execution. Security teams should also consider network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Dojo Toolkit implementations to identify any other potentially vulnerable components and ensure proper security controls are in place. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-stage nature of potential exploitation paths that organizations must defend against.